Limerick East): Over the last five years, a nutritional health promotion framework for action has been implemented by my Department to improve the nutritional status of the Irish population and help reduce the incidence of diet-related disease. This has involved development at community level, in schools, the workplace and health care facilities. In this context, my Department has worked with the food industry and with relevant voluntary and professional groups.
My Department's healthy eating policy involves the ongoing promotion of the healthy eating guidelines which seek to encourage Irish people to eat a wide variety of foods in line with current recommendations. This is achieved through ongoing healthy eating initiatives like national healthy eating week, which focuses on a different theme each year. The policy also embraces continuing nutrition education for health professionals and expanding community based healthy eating initiatives for lower income groups.